Dock worker found dead in Manila

MANILA, Philippines - A 21-year old dock worker’s body was found before dawn yesterday stuffed inside a sack in Binondo, Manila.

The naked body of Joselito Mercader, a resident of Antonio Velasquez street in Binondo, was reported missing since Saturday morning. He was last seen at around 1:30 a.m. at the wake of his uncle, Angelito Lim.

Prober Senior Police Officer 1 Edgardo Ko, of the Manila Police District (MPD) homicide section, said the victim may have been strangled to death. His face was also wrapped in packaging tape.

Police said prior to his disappearance, the victim was seen talking with two men before leaving his uncle’s wake. His relatives went to different police stations after he failed to return, thinking he might have been arrested by policemen.

Ko said they were looking for owners of two vehicles - an owner-type jeepney and a gray car – that were seen parked along Lavezares Street – where his body was found – before his disappearance. – Edu Punay